By Madisson Cameron, Mustang High School
In spite of hardships, people of the world have learned to band together and to help one another when in need. The idea of charity is to be helpful and generous to all, especially those who are struggling, but not many people take action to do so. However, there is someone who is taking action and making a difference in her community. Cate Slabotsky is a rising senior at Bethany High School who lives a charitable life by donating her time to help those in need.
Cate, 16, has already made goals for this upcoming school year.
“Seeing the positive affect on the community is what influences me to do community service,” Cate said.
Those wants for her community are the reason that she ran for president of her school’s National Honor Society, a program focused on academics and charity. By pursuing this new role, Cate was able to give back to not only her school, but her community. Before being elected, she had a conversation with the sponsor.
“There were ideas that I told her I wanted for the club,” Cate said. “(I) felt like we weren’t doing much for the community or the school.”
She encouraged her fellow members to participate in different charities such as volunteering at the food bank. This wasn’t the only time that she was motivated to do something because of the want to help her community.
In her high school career, she’s done volunteer work multiple times. For example, she was a member of Key Club, which goes on many field trips for community service. She also volunteers her time to organizations outside of clubs. She and a friend volunteered for an organization called Joy4Kids just last year.
“I love working with them,” Cate said. “The people there are so nice and they’re giving kids that might have a disadvantaged situation a good Christmas and memories they wouldn’t otherwise get.”
Joy4Kids is an organization that provides Christmas presents for foster kids. She said that volunteers at organizations like this not because it looks good on a resume, but because she sees that there are people in her community that need help. She also knows how to get others to help, too.
Cate promotes community service through another passion of hers, journalism and graphic design.
“I initially started graphic design just to get the credit, but I liked it so much that I took it again,” Cate said. “I got to do my own thing, gain those skills and use them outside of the class.”
She’s made infographics to advocate for the work that she and her peers have done, which has encouraged her community to follow suit.
After she graduates from high school, Cate plans on following in her mother’s footsteps and attending the University of Oklahoma.
“I can’t pass up the opportunity,” Cate said. “(I) have to put the anxiety and whatever aside. I just have to push my way through.”
She wants to continue to pursue her passion for journalism by going to Gaylord which she believes is state of the art.
Even though Cate is young, she is high in spirit and dedication. In the upcoming year, her hard work will continue to make a positive impact through community service and advocate for those in need.
